US forces yesterday began a sweep of towns in Iraq and arrested at least 60 suspects in an effort to stem attacks on US troops.
The latest operation, dubbed "Sidewinder", is expected to last for several days.
There were no reports of US casualties, the military said, nor was there any indication that the operation had netted any of Iraq's most wanted fugitives.
The military said the raids targeted loyalists from Saddam's former Baath Party, as well as "terrorists suspected of perpetrating attacks against US forces and former Iraqi military leaders".
Yesterday's raids came as the US civilian administrator of Iraq, Mr Paul Bremer, said US forces must kill or capture Saddam Hussein so he can no longer be a rallying point for anti-coalition attacks.
At least 63 US soldiers have been killed in Iraq since major combat was declared over on May 1st.
AP